Thelma Louise Sones Rupert

May 19, 2013

Thelma Louise Sones Rupert, 85, of Hickory N.C., went to Heaven on March 9, 2013. She went peacefully surrounded by her family. She was ready to go to Heaven and told both her daughter, Elva McBride and her son, Max D. Rupert that she was ready to be with God and her husband, Max, who passed away in 1973.

Thelma was born in Williamsport, Pa., on April 28, 1927, and graduated from Hughesville High School in 1946. She married Max Monroe Rupert at Hughesville's Trinity Lutheran Church in 1948. They lived most of their married life in Penn Yan, N.Y., where they were active in the community and at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Together Thelma and Max created a wonderful home life which was the accomplishment for which she was most proud. Family was very important to her and her life was very full. The importance of family is a theme that continued through her relationships with her grandchildren.

The job Thelma had which she loved the most was her work at a Geneva Residential Home for adults with developmental disabilities. Ten years after Max's death, she decided to retire early and went to live in Austin, Texas, with her younger sister, Betty Jene Sones, and her mother, Adra J. Sones. Thelma and Betty lived together for 31 years and spent many months every year in their motor home touring Canada and the U.S. Thelma and Betty settled in North Carolina in 2010.

Thelma was a devoted wife and mother. She was a friend to all and lived out the most important commandment: Matthew 22:37-39 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." "This is the first and greatest commandment." "And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Thelma always had her Guidepost and Bible by her bed. She was intuitive and non-judgmental and strangers seemed to sense these gifts as Thelma was frequently approached by people whose life was difficult and they needed a compassionate listener and a person with whom to pray.

The memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, 2013, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 135 Hamilton St., Penn Yan, N.Y.